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Re: Gorillaz

Hear 'Plastic Beach' In Its Entirety A Week Before Its Release

When Gorillaz first emerged on the music scene, the idea of a virtual band composed of edgy cartoon personas that existed only on screen seemed both strange and brilliant. It may have been a gimmick, tailor-made for MTV back when it still regularly played videos, but it was an inventive one. And with huge breakthrough hits like "Clint Eastwood," "Tomorrow Comes Today" and "Feel Good Inc.," it was hard not to get caught up in the contagious combination of dub, hip-hop, Brit-pop and electronic music.

Gorillaz is essentially the brainchild of Blur frontman Damon Albarn and comic-book artist Jamie Hewlett — best known for his work on Tank Girl — who dreamed up the project back in 1998. Albarn would handle the music while Hewlett would design the characters (2D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle and Russel), which serve as the visual element in Gorillaz's stylishly animated music videos.

Plastic Beach unites Albarn and Hewlett with a huge list of guests, creating yet another well-crafted and dance-friendly set of songs. Here, Albarn and company's songs demonstrate a genre-bending collection of glitchy club beats and hip-hop grooves, augmented by brass, glitzy synthesizers and Asian- and Arabic-tinged orchestral harmonies.

Much of the diversity in sound can be attributed to Gorillaz's constantly expanding group of collaborators. The original musical lineup — as heard on 2001's Gorillaz — blended the talents of Albarn and Dan "The Automator" Nakamura, as well as Kid Koala, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Cibo Matto's Miho Hatori and Tom Tom Club's Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz. Soon, with the follow-up Demon Days, Gorillaz's ever-rotating cast expanded to include Danger Mouse, Blondie's Debbie Harry, De La Soul and singer Martina Topley-Bird.

Still, Albarn's musical touch and wit are felt throughout. From the Thriller-infused electro-funk of "Stylo" to the bubbly grooves of "Superfast Jellyfish" and "Some Kind of Nature," there's something for everyone, and often in the same song. Even three albums into what might have initially seemed to be a one-off art project, Gorillaz's Plastic Beach exudes fun.

Re: Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

What I have heard so far is really good. I especially like Stylo. There was a HD concert of one of their performances in Harlem from a few years ago that was really good. If you get a chance to see it, watch it.

Re: Gorillaz [MERGED]

Did Gorillaz Steal 'Stylo' From Eddy Grant?

Gorillaz has long been applauded as one of pop music's most unique outfits. But now, Damon Albarn's virtual band is being accused of plagiarism.

Reggae singer Eddy Grant, best known for his 1982 hit "Electric Avenue," has claimed that the animated band took significant portions of his song, "Time Warp" to make their recent single "Stylo" without giving him credit. "This is pure piracy, it is an obvious infringement of my song," he said yesterday in a statement (via addictmusic). "Anyone who knows 'Time Warp' will know this is 'Time Warp' with people singing and rapping over it, [along] with funny little noises. 'Time Warp' is a very popular song and has been a staple of the DJ scene for many years and I feel total disrespect from Gorillaz and their management company.

"It's such an obvious copy that from day one the band and their management should have taken control of this situation with EMI Publishing," Grant's Rant continues. "I would like the outcome to be that the band admits that they have lifted my song, that I have a full credit for the song and an apology from the band." Currently, Grant not appear to be seeking any monetary damages.

Albarn -- nor any of Gorillaz two-dimensional musicians, for that matter -- have commented on the accusation.

Re: Gorillaz [MERGED]

Parlophone/EMI's "virtual band" Gorillaz maintains its perfect record on Billboard's European Albums chart, scoring its third No. 1 from three studio releases with "Plastic Beach."

The Gorillaz self-titled 2001 debut album climbed to the top of the pan-European chart in its 21st week that summer. The 2005 follow-up "Demon Days" made much shorter work of the challenge, starting at No. 1 in June, 2005, and now "Plastic Beach" repeats the feat, opening at the summit in Denmark and Austria and climbing 12-1 in the Belgian region of Flanders.

"Beach" is also new at No. 2 in the United Kingdom (with sales of 74,000), France and Switzerland, No. 3 in Germany, No. 4 in Ireland, No. 5 in the Czech Republic, No. 6 in Portugal and Norway and No. 8 in Holland, climbing 9-2 in Wallony. Europe's best-selling album of the last four weeks, Sade's "Soldier of Love" (Epic/Sony Music Entertainment), thus falls to No. 2, losing its crown in France, Hungary and the Czech Republic, although it posts a 7-6 climb in Germany and holds at No. 2 in Poland.

Re: Gorillaz [MERGED]

The animated band Gorillaz (the brainchild of flesh-and-blood musician Damon Albarn) debuts at No. 2 with its third studio effort on the BILLBOARD TOP 200, "Plastic Beach." It's the act's highest-charting album and, with 112,000 units sold, it arrives with its best sales week yet. Gorillaz' previous high rank came when their last studio set, "Demon Days," debuted and peaked at No. 6 with 107,000 in 2005.

Re: Gorillaz [MERGED]

Gorillaz are currently treating hardcore devotees to an exclusive fan-only rehearsal tour around England. The core band includes Gorillaz mastermind Damon Albarn alongside reunited Clash members Mick Jones and Paul Simonon. The current tour is in preparation for the group's Coachella gig along with two just-announced London shows at the Roundhouse April 29 and 30. Much like the cartoon collective's albums, the LDN gigs will be heavy on big name guests.

Albarn, Jones and Simonon will be joined by Mos Def, Super Furry Animals leader Gruff Rhys, De La Soul, Bobby Womack, the Happy Mondays' Shaun Ryder, Bashy, Kano, Little Dragon, and the National Orchestra for Arabic Music to play tunes from their new Best New Music'd LP Plastic Beach along with other hits. A press release also promises "video animation, artwork, and film" by Gorillaz visual guru Jamie Hewlett.

And, based on fan footage of a recent fan club gig, we can also expect a few sailor hats, too. Watch a YouTube of "Dirty Harry" below. All upcoming Gorillaz dates are listed below as well.

"Dirty Harry" (live at rehearsal show in Portsmouth, England, on March 21):

Re: Gorillaz [MERGED]

Gorillaz Replaces U2 At Glastonbury

Gorillaz has stepped in to replace U2 at Glastonbury festival.

Damon Albarn's animated pop act will make its only U.K. festival appearance this summer at Glastonbury on the Pyramid Stage on Friday, June 25. U2 has pulled out because of a serious back injury to Bono.

"This is going to be Gorillaz' only U.K. festival appearance, and it will be a massive audio-visual spectacle which will really ignite the Pyramid on the Friday night, with Muse, then Stevie Wonder to follow," said festival organizer Michael Eavis.

"I'm very excited about Gorillaz' show coming here because they're so open to guests and collaborations. The alchemy of Friday's show is going to be astonishing: a perfect, contemporary way to kick off the 40th anniversary celebrations. I am so grateful for the enthusiasm of the media and the whole of the music industry for their willingness and eagerness to support us in what could have been a crisis."

Re: Gorillaz [MERGED]

Gorillaz Announce World Tour

They've announced the first wave of dates on a massive world tour that will take them to North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Only two of the 20 North American dates (NYC's Madison Square Garden and Montreal's Bell Centre) have been announced so far, so stay tuned. All the announced ones listed below:

Re: Gorillaz [MERGED]

Gorillaz’s new “iPad” album due out on Christmas

Truth: the best gift you’ll receive this Christmas won’t come from mommy and daddy, but rather one Damon Albarn. As previously reported, the UK mastermind recorded a brand new Gorillaz album on his iPad — and you thought we were joking! — and in a interview with Perth Now, Gorillaz co-conspirator Jamie Hewlett announced that the untitled effort will drop on Christmas Day. Seriously.

Re: Gorillaz [MERGED]

Gorillaz Release Christmas iPad Album, 'The Fall'

Gorillaz have dropped a special Christmas present for fans -- "The Fall," an album mixed and recorded by frontman Damon Albarn using the iPad, is available on the band's website (thefall.gorillaz.com as of Dec. 25).

Over a dozen iPad apps were used to mix and record "The Fall," including Speak It!, SoundyThingie, Mugician, Funx Box, Gliss, AmpliTube and Xenon. The 15-track set also features Bobby Womack and was recorded over 32 days during the Gorillaz' 2010 tour stops between Montreal and Vancouver.

Fan cub members can download "The Fall" for free, while non-members can listen to a stream in exchange for an email address.

"The Fall" follows the March release of Gorillaz' last studio set, "Plastic Beach." In a recent interview, Albarn said he wanted to release the new album quickly to avoid arguments that its songs had been mixed or recorded outside of the iPad.

"I literally made it on the road in America over a month," he said. "If I left it until the New Year to release it, then the cynics out there would say, 'Oh well, it's been tampered with.' But if I put it out now, they'd know that I haven't done anything because I've been on tour ever since."

Re: Gorillaz [MERGED]

Gorillaz to Release 'The Fall' in April

"The Fall," the newest release from cartoon band Gorillaz, will see a physical release this April. The album, which was released digitally to the band's fan club last Christmas Day, will be released on vinyl April 16, and then on CD and by digital download April 19. "The Fall" was reportedly recorded in the midst of the band's recent North American tour last fall.

Re: Gorillaz [MERGED]

Gorillaz Announce Greatest Hits Album

On November 29 in the U.S. and November 28 in the UK, Virgin/Parlophone will release a greatest hits collection from Gorillaz, including singles, videos, and remixes from the entire career of Damon Albarn's animated group.
The Singles Collection: 2001-2011 will include fifteen tracks and be released on CD, CD/DVD, and vinyl. A limited edition 7" box set will also be released. Check out the track list, and watch the video for "Stylo", below.

Albarn's African music project DRC Music has released the first video from their album Kinshasa One Two. Watch the clip for "Hallo", featuring Tout Puissant Mukalo and Nelly Liyemge, below: